NRC NOTEBOOK

Delegates gathered at a Windsor hotel April 26-27 for the annual National Representative Council meeting. (Photo: Ryan James Frith)

Delegates hear about fight for quality journalism, strong unions

Delegates from locals across the country gathered in Windsor last weekend for the annual meeting of the National Representative Council, the governing body of CWA Canada.

President Martin O’Hanlon said the overriding theme this year was that the media union would continue to fight for quality jobs, quality journalism and press freedom.

Chris Shelton, president of the international Communications Workers of America (CWA), told delegates they needed to heed what was happening in the United States, where the Trump administration is attacking labour unions and workers’ rights. He said CWA Canada members need to fight back before it’s too late.

“We can’t let politicians and corporations keep turning up the heat on our trade union movement,” said Shelton. “We must fight now, while in Canada we still represent 15 per cent of the private-sector workforce. We must expand our presence and not let our gains be rolled back.”

Bernie Lunzer, president of The NewsGuild-CWA, said they were focused on developing strategies for building on recent organizing success in newsrooms across North America and making the media union stronger.

By-election brings two changes to executive

There were changes made to the CWA Canada executive ranks as a result of a by-election that became necessary with the resignation earlier this year of the Secretary, John Rufh.

Training / Education Grant

Training/education grant of up to $500 for laid-off members
If you are affected by a layoff or related buyout, all you need to do to receive the grant is provide proof of payment for a skills training or education course (university, community college, online, or the like) to Marj Botsford at our national office (email:mbotsford@cwa-scacanada.ca Tel: 1-877-486-4292 Fax 613-820-8188) CWA/SCA Canada 7B - 1050 Baxter Rd Ottawa, ON K2C 3P1.